Competitive eater Joey Chestnut proposes to his girlfriend and fellow competitor Neslie Ricasa before the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating contest at Coney Island, Friday, July 4, 2014, in New York. Chestnut won his competition and eighth consecutive contest by finishing 61 hot dogs and buns.(Photo: AP Photo/John Minchillo)

The San Jose, California, man fell far short of his record last year of 69 dogs and buns, but he still easily beat second-place finisher Matt Stonie, also of San Jose, who downed just 56.

Chestnut, 30, took a quick timeout before the annual Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island to make it official with his longtime girlfriend, Neslie Ricasa, who is also a competitive eater.

In the women's division, defending champion Sonya "Black Widow" Thomas lost her title to Miki Sudo.

Sonya Thomas competes during the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating contest at Coney Island, Friday, July 4, 2014, in New York. Thomas, the reigning champion, consumed 27 and three quarters hot dogs and buns to place second to Miki Sudo. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (Photo: John Minchillo ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Jon Herzog, center, cheers before the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating contest at Coney Island, Friday, July 4, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (Photo: John Minchillo AP)

Competitive eater Joey Chestnut proposes to his girlfriend and fellow competitor Neslie Ricasa before the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating contest at Coney Island, Friday, July 4, 2014, in New York. Chestnut won his competition and eighth consecutive contest by finishing 61 hot dogs and buns. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (Photo: John Minchillo ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Joey Chestnut raises his fist in the air after winning Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating contest at Coney Island, Friday, July 4, 2014, in New York. Chestnut finished first by consuming 61 hotdogs and buns. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (Photo: John Minchillo ASSOCIATED PRESS)

From left, Tim Janus, Joey Chestnut, and Matt Stonie finish their final hot dogs during the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating contest at Coney Island, Friday, July 4, 2014, in New York. Chestnut won his eighth contest by finishing 61 hotdogs and buns. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (Photo: John Minchillo ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Paul Calienes poses for a photo before the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating contest at Coney Island, Friday, July 4, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (Photo: John Minchillo AP)

Joey Chestnut competes at the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating contest at Coney Island, Friday, July 4, 2014, in New York. Chestnut won his eighth contest by finishing 61 hotdogs and buns. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (Photo: John Minchillo ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Matt Stonie competes at the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating contest at Coney Island, Friday, July 4, 2014, in New York. Stonie placed second against the reigning champion Joey Chestnut by eating 56 hot dogs and buns. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (Photo: John Minchillo ASSOCIATED PRESS)

David Turner walks down Surf Avenue while wearing his American flag accessories after the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating contest at Coney Island, Friday, July 4, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (Photo: John Minchillo AP)

Season Martinez wears her American flag sunglasses before the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating contest at Coney Island, Friday, July 4, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (Photo: John Minchillo AP)

Joey Chestnut, left, raises his fist after successfully proposing to his girlfriend and fellow competitor Neslie Ricasa, center, alongside master of ceremonies George Shea at the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating contest at Coney Island, Friday, July 4, 2014, in New York. Chestnut won his competition and eighth consecutive contest by finishing 61 hot dogs and buns. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (Photo: John Minchillo ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Miki Sudo stands with her trophy after finishing first in the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating contest at Coney Island, Friday, July 4, 2014, in New York. Sudo defeated the reigning champion Sonya Thomas by eating 34 hot dogs and buns. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (Photo: John Minchillo ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Sonya Thomas raises her trophy after placing second at the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating contest at Coney Island, Friday, July 4, 2014, in New York. Miki Sudo dethroned Thomas, the reigning champion, by eating 34 hot dogs and buns. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (Photo: John Minchillo AP)

From left to right, Michelle Lesco, Sonya Thomas, Miki Sudo, and Juliet Lee compete at the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating contest at Coney Island, Friday, July 4, 2014, in New York. Sudo defeated the reigning champion Thomas by eating 34 hot dogs and buns. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (Photo: John Minchillo AP)

Joey Chestnut raises his trophy in the air after winning Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating contest at Coney Island, Friday, July 4, 2014, in New York. Chestnut finished first by consuming 61 hotdogs and buns. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (Photo: John Minchillo ASSOCIATED PRESS)

From left to right, Tim Janus, Joey Chestnut, Matt Stonie, and Erik Denmark compete during the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating contest at Coney Island, Friday, July 4, 2014, in New York. Chestnut won his eighth contest by finishing 61 hotdogs and buns. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (Photo: John Minchillo ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Chestnut has won eight times in a row now. In 2010, his former rival, Takeru Kobayashi, Kobayashi refused to sign an exclusive contract with Major League Eating, the food equivalent of the NFL, and was banned from competition.

This year, the Japanese native nicknamed the Tsunami will compete against five other competitive eaters at a separate event on Fifth Avenue in a quest to down the most hot dogs without buns in 10 minutes.